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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Characters felt 1 dimensional, storyline wasn't intriguing at all.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Medical content, Stalking, Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment
Minor: Racism, Sexism, Car accident
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Riveting! Rachel Howzell Hall kept me second guessing everything she was telling me. Masterful way of reflecting the story dynamics in the narrative style. I’m excited to read her other books.
I enjoyed this. Hall has quickly become a must read for me. I very much appreciate that each novel is a standalone; I mean, I love a good series but one and done is good sometimes! Like all the other books of hers that I've read, this one is set in California. It starts with a bang (the first chapter plunges you right into the story at a fast clip) and then twists and turns from there. There are elements of the mystery that you will figure out but the details include some shocking surprises. Definitely check this one out.
I received an advance copy from Netgalley and the author to review.
I received an advance copy from Netgalley and the author to review.
This reads more like a domestic drama. Cut out about 25% and then it'd be a thriller.
Dom was my favorite character by a mile. I'd love to read this from her perspective!
Dom was my favorite character by a mile. I'd love to read this from her perspective!
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The style of writing kept me confused and engaged but I enjoyed it. I just wish the twist ending was less of a cliche
3.5 stars.
I like Rachel Howzell Hall’s mysteries (at least the ones I’ve read so far) and though I liked this book, I didn’t love it.
Main character Yara Gibson has organized an anniversary party for her parents in her home town of Antelope Valley, and heads there from her stressful life as a writer on a weekly cop show.
Yara is not looking forward to returning home: she has a somewhat difficult relationship with her manipulative mother, Yara suffers from asthma and has memory lapses and nightmares, partially from her medications and from what might be memories or an overactive imagination, her mother and young sister are smokers, and her home town is dry, windy and very dusty.
The days she arrives, she’s accosted by a relative, who claims she has important information for Yara, but before she can deliver it, the relative is found dead.
Yara begins looking into the death while she’s home, and she begins slowly unravelling secrets involving her parents, their friends, and their time in high school. Yara also has asthma attack after attack, and begins possibly hallucinating or confounding actual occurrences with possible nightmares, complicating one’s understanding of what Yara is actually seeing. So, quickly, one has to wonder how reliable a narrator Yara is, as well as who amongst her parents and relatives is telling the truth about her parents’ relationship, how it started, and the actions of people entwined with Yara’s family, including a woman who may be sending Yara threatening messages.
I can’t really say much more without spoiling the identity of the murderer (which I deduced early on). I found the family tensions well-drawn, with it becoming difficult to figure who was telling the truth. I did find this story a little less enjoyable than others I’ve read by this author, but that didn’t stop me eagerly reading right to the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my review.
I like Rachel Howzell Hall’s mysteries (at least the ones I’ve read so far) and though I liked this book, I didn’t love it.
Main character Yara Gibson has organized an anniversary party for her parents in her home town of Antelope Valley, and heads there from her stressful life as a writer on a weekly cop show.
Yara is not looking forward to returning home: she has a somewhat difficult relationship with her manipulative mother, Yara suffers from asthma and has memory lapses and nightmares, partially from her medications and from what might be memories or an overactive imagination, her mother and young sister are smokers, and her home town is dry, windy and very dusty.
The days she arrives, she’s accosted by a relative, who claims she has important information for Yara, but before she can deliver it, the relative is found dead.
Yara begins looking into the death while she’s home, and she begins slowly unravelling secrets involving her parents, their friends, and their time in high school. Yara also has asthma attack after attack, and begins possibly hallucinating or confounding actual occurrences with possible nightmares, complicating one’s understanding of what Yara is actually seeing. So, quickly, one has to wonder how reliable a narrator Yara is, as well as who amongst her parents and relatives is telling the truth about her parents’ relationship, how it started, and the actions of people entwined with Yara’s family, including a woman who may be sending Yara threatening messages.
I can’t really say much more without spoiling the identity of the murderer (which I deduced early on). I found the family tensions well-drawn, with it becoming difficult to figure who was telling the truth. I did find this story a little less enjoyable than others I’ve read by this author, but that didn’t stop me eagerly reading right to the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my review.